Sudanese, Chadian presidents to meet in Qatar

November 23, 2008 (KHARTOUM)– Sudanese President Omer Al-Bashir should meet with the Chadian president Idriss Deby Itno on the sideline of a UN sponsored summit to be held in Doha, Qatar on November 29.

This meeting would be the first since the two neighbouring countries agreed to restore diplomatic relations and the exchange of ambassadors earlier this month. The two head of states met for the last time on the margins of the Islamic Conference Organisation in Dakar March 2008.

Al-Bashir who is charged of genocide and war crimes in Darfur, will lead Sudanese delegation to the second United Nations Summit on Financing for Development (FfD), and Deby also will head the Chadian delegation.

Mustafa Osman Ismail, a close adviser to the Sudanese president was in Ndjamena on November 11 to discuss normalisation of bilateral ties

Al-Bashir expressed his sincere intention to return bilateral relations to their normal, said Ismail. He further added that Al-Bshir’s message dealt with required steps to achieve normalization.

The UN sponsored Doha summit will take place from November 29 to December 2 where world leaders are expected to discuss the global financial crisis. Qatari government also intends to convene peace talks between the government and the rebel groups after more than five years of fighting.

Since 2005, Sudan and Chad exchanged accusations of supporting their respective rebel movements. One of the major points of Dakar non aggression deal between Sudan and Chad is to deploy 2000 troops along the border to monitor rebels’ movements.

The borders observers, who are expected to be deployed next January, could deter the movement of the rebels from both sides and help to ease tension between the two countries. But it is not clear how the both sides could end their links with rebels particularly those of Darfur who have tribal ties in the Chadian side.

(ST)